Ugandan woman involved in cross-border drug trafficking extradited to Kenya to face drug related charges after being on the run for 2 years (PHOTO)

Tuesday, August 12, 2025 - A cross-border manhunt has ended with the arrest and extradition of Hellen Ikareut, a Ugandan woman accused of masterminding a high-stakes cannabis trafficking plot.

Ikareut, a key player in a transnational drug network, was nabbed in Uganda and extradited to Kenya to face justice after more than two years on the run.

Her trail began on May 18^th, 2023, when detectives at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport’s DHL Cargo Section cracked open a suspicious shipment.

Inside a carton box, hidden within 25 shower curtains, they found 4,186.34 grams of cannabis sativa, a smuggling trick designed to slip past customs undetected.

The breakthrough led detectives to trail Ikareut, uncovering her hideout in Uganda.

Working with the Office of the Attorney General, Interpol Kenya and Ugandan counterparts, they triggered the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) and extradition protocols under East African Community agreements.

Following this, on August 5^th, 2025, Ugandan officers swooped in, arresting the fugitive and handing her over to Kenyan law enforcement.

Ikareut was arraigned at the JKIA Law Courts on August 11^th, 2025, where she faced charges of Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs.

Her case will be mentioned on August 25^th, 2025.

This case underscores the critical role of regional cooperation in dismantling organised crime.

By pooling intelligence, legal tools, and enforcement resources across borders, East African nations are proving that coordinated action can choke off trafficking networks and bring fugitives to account.

The Kenyan DAILY POST